Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
Brain Cogn. 2011 Jun;76(1):131-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2011.02.003. Epub 2011 Mar 2.
Previous studies on performance monitoring repeatedly found attenuated error-related negativities (Ne/ERN) in elderly, while findings for the correct-related negativity (Nc/CRN) are inconsistent. The present study aimed at clarifying inconsistent Nc/CRN results in elderly. Therefore, a refined design was employed to control for potential influences on the Nc/CRN, namely decision uncertainty and partial error processing. Further, we intended to study Nc/CRN variations with trial compatibility that were found in previous studies for younger but not for older adults. Results revealed increased Nc/CRN and decreased Ne/ERN amplitudes in older compared to younger adults. While the Ne/ERN was larger than the Nc/CRN in younger adults, both components were similar-sized in older adults. Further, a modulation of Nc/CRN amplitudes between compatible and incompatible trials was observed in younger adults, but was absent in older adults. Reduced differentiation of response-related negativities with response accuracy or stimulus compatibility in elderly suggests a reduced adaptation of associated processes to changing demands. Further, this might also point to different processes reflected by Nc/CRN and Ne/ERN and to reduced error-specific monitoring but increased general or strategic monitoring in elderly.
先前关于绩效监测的研究多次发现老年人的错误相关负波（Ne/ERN）减弱，而正确相关负波（Nc/CRN）的研究结果则不一致。本研究旨在澄清老年人 Nc/CRN 结果不一致的问题。因此，采用了一种精细的设计来控制对 Nc/CRN 的潜在影响，即决策不确定性和部分错误处理。此外，我们还打算研究在先前针对年轻人的研究中发现的与试验兼容性相关的 Nc/CRN 变化，但尚未针对老年人进行研究。结果表明，与年轻人相比，老年人的 Nc/CRN 增加，Ne/ERN 幅度减小。在年轻人中，Ne/ERN 大于 Nc/CRN，而在老年人中，两个成分的大小相似。此外，在年轻人中观察到兼容和不兼容试验之间 Nc/CRN 幅度的调制，但在老年人中则不存在。老年人的反应相关负波与反应准确性或刺激兼容性的分化减少表明，与变化的需求相关的过程适应性降低。此外，这也可能表明 Nc/CRN 和 Ne/ERN 反映了不同的过程，以及老年人错误特异性监测减少但一般性或策略性监测增加。
